Monday, November 7, 2011

Mancini's men were far from their best but dug in to earn a 10th win in 11 league games and an eighth successive victory in all competitions to maintain their five-point lead at the top of the table. Great news for City, but the result was harsh on Neil Warnock's side who gave as good as they got even though the odds were stacked against them. Despite of the absence of Shaun Derry and Adel Taarabt because of illness and injury respectively, the home side began superbly. Helguson twice threatened early on with shots from the right-hand corner of the box before Anton Ferdinand spurned a great chance at the back post following the Icelandic striker's header back across goal. The home side continued in this vain and were rewarded in the 28th minute when Bothroyd rose highest to head in Joey Barton's curling free-kick from the right. It could have been much worse for City before the break, but goalkeeper Joe Hart saved Jamie Mackie's long-range shot and Helguson's headed follow-up - although the latter was offside - before Bothroyd hit the post with another header.

However, even when they are not playing well, City's quality ensures they remain a threat and they demonstrated this with aplomb two minutes before half-time. QPR defender Ferdinand had earlier denied Dzeko with a superb block, but this time the striker got the better of the defender, cutting inside him after being found by Milner down the right, and firing in low past Paddy Kenny. It would have been harsh on the home side, but City could have led at the break had a post not denied Sergio Aguero's 25-yard strike. arly in the second half City did lead when Silva neatly took Dzeko's cross from the right in his stride before lashing the ball past Kenny. The game now swung in the favour of the visitors and it seemed just a matter of time before they scored again.

It is testimony to QPR's spirit then that it was they who next found the net as Bothroyd's goalbound header from an Armand Traore cross ultimately found the net courtesy of the back of Helguson, who was on the goalline but - despite the protestations of a number of City players - not offside. Toure would have the decisive say though, rising high to power a header past Kenny from Aleksandar Kolarov's cross. QPR would have one more chance to salvage a point but the bar denied Helguson with a late header and the points went to City.